Prevalence and Risk Factors of Asthma Symptoms in Adult Sudanese Using a Modified ISAAC

Asthma prevalence in Sudanese children was found to be 12.5 % as a part of the international study of asthma and allergies in children (ISAAC). The present study aimed at estimating the prevalence of asthma symptoms in different regions of Sudan and to identify risk and trigger factors influencing disease prevalence and exacerbation. . A cross-sectional study was performed in Elobeid (western), Dongola (northern), Kassala (eastern) and Khartoum (capital and central) of Sudan during 2009 - 2012. A modified ISAAC questionnaire was distributed to University students, academic staff, employee and workers chosen randomly. Any subject with asthma symptoms was interviewed by another questionnaire especially designed for asthma patients. A total of 3974 respondents (1807 males and 2167 females), aged 18 and above were included. Prevalence of asthma depending on wheezing symptom in the past 12 months was 6.7 % in Elobeid, 9.6 % in Dongola, 10.8 % in Khartoum, 13 % in Kassala with an overall average of 10 %. Most of asthmatic subjects (88 %) have intermittent symptoms. Young age, first degree family history, indoor air pollution, active tobacco smoking, domestic animals and dust are the major trigger factors for asthma symptoms. In conclusion, asthma prevalence is high in adult Sudanese with some regional variation.